State Constitutional Law. 2 credits

Catalog description

This survey course explores the nature and significance of state constitutional law, specifically including examination of recent cases and hot topics in the field. It is a subject that has long lived in the shadow of federal constitutional law but that has become increasingly relevant in recent years. The course covers rights and structure, and in both settings it compares the federal model to the various state models. Of particular emphasis is the role of the state courts in protecting liberty and property rights under their own constitutions, and most notably whether they should construe these guarantees to offer protections that the federal courts have not provided in construing the federal constitution.Offered by Law.